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* Sun-Times…
Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Tuesday signed an executive order aimed at ensuring the state is properly enforcing a politically divisive law that allows for the taxpayer funding of abortions — saying he was “concerned” former Gov. Bruce Rauner’s administration wasn’t “making sure that it was enforced for state government employees.” […]
The American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois said that within the past month, some state employees had received notices that abortion is now covered under their plan. The group says Rauner’s administration “didn’t really prioritize fully implementing and creating the mechanics for people to be able to easily access abortion through Medicaid.”
“We were concerned and are concerned that the leadership that Gov. Rauner had in place wasn’t in fact making sure that it was enforced for state government employees,” Pritzker said. “And of course more broadly we want to make sure that private and public health insurance coverage included it and that it’s enforced. So we had some indications, but the most important thing is we’re going to make sure that everyone, every woman in state government has the coverage that she deserves.”
You may recall that I asked the governor’s office yesterday about complaints or compliance issues with state employee group health insurance plans. I was referred to the ACLU of Illinois.
* Ed Yohnka with the ACLU…
Here is the information about the state insurance plans’ coverage of abortion. This is based on information we received via FOIA requests in 2017 and mid-2018.
The following plans do not appear to cover abortion in most circumstances. As of the time of our FOIAs, it appears these three plans covered nearly half of all enrollees.
* Healthlink OAP. Appears to contain a life exception only. This plan does not renew until 2021.
* Aetna QCHP. Appears to contain a life exception only. This plan does not renew until 2021.
* Aetna HMO. Does not cover “elective abortion” or “abortion drugs.” This plan was renewed for FY2019. We do not have any more updated information to indicate if abortion was covered, but we believe it might not be.
The following plan just expanded its abortion coverage, but it is not complete.
* Health Alliance HMO. Before viability, it now covers abortions determined by the physician to be necessary. After viability, the abortion is covered if the life of the mother is endangered, the fetus has a condition incompatible with life outside the uterus, or the pregnancy is the result of rape or incest. Based on the notice we received, it does not contain an exception post-viability for the health of the pregnant person.
Two other plans cover election abortions, but have a lifetime limit of two.
Discuss.
posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Jan 23, 19 @ 10:17 am
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Yohnka specifically talks about when the plans renew. Can the state change the plans in the middle of the contract, or do we have to wait until 2021 to bring them into compliance?
Comment by Perrid Wednesday, Jan 23, 19 @ 10:33 am
The Governor’s Office is outsourcing press inquiries to the ACLU?
Comment by Rail Splitter Wednesday, Jan 23, 19 @ 10:49 am
Elective, not election.
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Jan 23, 19 @ 10:52 am
Elective abortions. keep in mind that pregnancies can go awry. i had a conversation yesterday about a family trying to have a child and they are in big hurt for how things don’t progress and what has to happen. Don’t see elective abortion as only wanting to terminate a pregnancy. Medical issues may be more complicated.
Comment by Amalia Wednesday, Jan 23, 19 @ 11:00 am
If the issue is compliance with state law, maybe this is an issue for the OEIG. That could take months, or even years, but still.
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Jan 23, 19 @ 12:08 pm
My question is does this bill remove language from the Illinois Abortion Law of 1975 which declares that “the unborn child is a human being from the time of conception and is, therefore, a legal person for purposes of the unborn child’s right to life.”
Our new Governor said this was his position and if so, shame and him and all that attended the signing. If this did happen, curious that there was no mention of it by any news outlet that I could find.
Comment by Concerned Voter Wednesday, Jan 23, 19 @ 12:33 pm
===does this bill===
This isn’t a bill, it’s an executive order. The bill was signed by Rauner. Try to keep up. And Google is your friend.
Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Jan 23, 19 @ 12:53 pm
Glad to see Personal PAC/Terry Cosgrove’s lap dog following orders.
Comment by EPatt Wednesday, Jan 23, 19 @ 2:28 pm
===Glad to see Personal PAC/Terry Cosgrove’s lap dog following orders===
… and yet Rauner was the one who signed HB40, making it law.
Lapdogs, not lapdogs, Rauner’s signature madectguspossibje.
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Jan 23, 19 @ 2:30 pm